Meet Dr. Juan Gomez and Kari Price | Sin Fronteras Weld County: Cultivating the Next Generation of Helpers

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Juan Gomez and Kari Price and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Juan Gomez and Kari Price, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
We decided to pursue the development of Sin Fronteras Weld County (SFWC) after working with high-risk teenagers in our community for a combined 20 years. We see, firsthand, the need for teens and young adults to engage in meaningful activities that benefit their local community while also developing career-related hard and soft skills. The stability of our communities depends on the opportunities and mentorship we offer our youth! SFWC’s mission is to cultivate the next generation of helpers, placing significant focus on training adolescents and young adults to be effective and impactful community health workers through a model called “Promotoras”. We believe strongly in the Promotoras model of change which recognizes that the most effective change agents are those deeply rooted in their own communities; these individuals have strong cultural and relational ties that translate into influence and empowerment.

SFWC seeks to build interest and provide exposure to a wide range of helping roles within the local community, focusing specifically on skills and careers within public health, mental health, and human services. When community members receive training in areas like disease prevention, mental health, community organizing, advocacy, and cultural competency they are able to take that knowledge forward into their personal circles of influence. They begin to examine their experiences through a new lens and can then identify localized, unique ways to build generational and community health. Through projects and experiences in their own communities, people discover a sense of pride and ownership which leads to a long-term investment of talents and resources back into their own streets and neighborhoods. SFWC will partner with local agencies to strengthen cooperation, improve resource coordination, and increase opportunities for professional growth. We recognize the need for sustainability and will work diligently to cultivate new opportunities rather than duplicate existing services.

To find success, high-risk youth often need dedicated mentors that understand their specific emotional and practical needs. This factor also played into the development of SFWC – we share a background in stabilizing, mentoring, and educating high-risk youth and want to use our experience to create an inclusive program that prioritizes their growth, even amid difficult circumstances.

Our first project is the development of a Public Health Youth Ambassador Program. Youth selected for the program will complete the Morehouse School of Medicine High School Community Health Worker certification. This certification includes basic training in areas such as health promotion, self-care, mental health, interpersonal communication, research skills, chronic disease, sexual health, case management, nutrition, and physical activity. Youth Ambassadors will receive the technology and supplies necessary to fulfil their role, along with professional connections, mentorship, and internship placements. Public Health Youth Ambassadors will support existing public health initiatives and design new school and community-based initiatives, while developing their confidence and expanding their employability.

Our second project is certification as a Youth Mental Health First Aide training site. Youth involved in this program will complete the national Youth Mental Health First Aide training program and receive a certification of completion. This certification helps youth recognize signs and symptoms of a mental health crisis, prepares them to give appropriate support, and provides information on trauma, substance use, and selfcare. Our goal is to provide frequent, no-cost training opportunities that are accessible to the youth in our community who would normally not engage in this type of training.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
We are incredibly excited about the Promotoras model! It is a health care model that originated in areas of Latin America using trust-based relationships to deliver health critical information. The model has been replicated across the United States, especially in hard-to-reach communities that lack access to adequate information and care.

In our area, there is a lack of bilingual and culturally responsive healthcare for Hispanic individuals, with particularly problematic deficiencies in support for maternal health, preventative health care, mental health, and the care of chronic diseases like diabetes. Hispanic individuals are less likely to have health insurance than their peers and have more difficulty accessing and trusting systems of care.

Unfortunately, we see the same story play out in similar communities throughout the United States, and local, state, and national governments are constantly seeking new ideas to address these issues. It is often difficult to reach the individuals who most need assistance, especially at times when we can do the most good by providing preventative care and avoiding expensive emergency care that often corresponds with poorer long-term outcomes. Many types of government, private, and nonprofit interventions are cost-prohibitive, and often even programs with adequate funding and excellent intentions fail in their mission.

Adapting the Promotoras model for youth has the potential to revolutionize public health practice across the nation. Youth-based initiatives are naturally preventative; they come at a time when teens are gaining independence and building life-long habits. Equipping youth as public health workers sets them on a lifelong trajectory of learning, sharing, and serving. We are deeply aware of the challenges faced by young people, but we also understand the vast potential these young people have – their interconnectedness within their larger communities, and their need for valuable work that they can build upon for the rest of their lives.

Ultimately, we are excited to watch the success of our teens and young adults! Most don’t realize the impact they can have on their community, and it is humbling to watch them step into their power. Their stories and experiences are critical to guide the next generation.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are too many people to count! We’ve been exceptionally lucky to have strong men and women to mentor and challenge us. In terms of Sin Fronteras Weld County, we’d like to honor the following people for their support and creativity. They are truly the blood running through the veins of our community: Mitzi Moran, Ofelia Orozco, Kelly Martinez, Amelia Ritchhart, Cameron McLaughlin, Stephanie McKay, Angie Diaz, Elizabeth Gilbert, Julie Trujillo, Teresa Sharp and Olga Gonzalez. These individuals are intensely devoted to the health of our community and always model compassionate and inclusive care.